Status of UMass 2010-- Receivers

Image of returning WR Julian Talley is by the UMass Athletic Dept.


In 2009 the receiving corps went:

• 196 REC 2521 Yards 12.9 Ave 11 TD's 67 LONG 229.2 yards/game

In 2008 the receivers went:

• 218 REC 2971 Yards 13.4 Ave 24 TD's 80 LONG 242.6 yards/game
  

In NCAA stats, UMass was 27th nationally in 2009.

For 2010, UMass loses:

• Victor Cruz 10 starts 59-868 14.7 ave 5 TDs 78.9 yards/game
• Jeremy Horne 8 starts 22-297 13.5 ave 0 TD's 27.0 yards/game
• Joe Sanford 3 starts 16-240 15.0 ave 0 TD's 21.8 yards/game
• Matt Silver 10 starts 11-130 11.8 ave 0TD's 11.8 yards/game (TE)
  

That's a total of 102 catches and 1235 yards. Those receivers accounted for 48% of UMass' receiving yards.

UMass also loses some receiving yards from the offensive backfield:

• Tony Nelson 8-68 7.6 yards/game
• Chris Zardas 7-46 4.2 yards/game

Returning for 2010 are:

• Jullian Talley 3 starts 28-350 1 TD 12.5 ave 31.8 yards/game (2nd on team)
• Emil Igwenaqu 3 starts 24-288 0TD's 26.2 yards/game (3rd on team)
• Jonathan Hernandez 4 starts 10-107 0 TD 10.7 ave 10.7 yards/game
  
• Andrew Kervis 1 start 4-45 2TD's 11.2 ave 4.1 yards/game
• Dan Sheeran 1 start 4-35 0TD's 8.8 ave 3.2yards/game
• Aaron Fears 0 starts 3-47 1 TD 15.7 ave 4.7 yards/game

Other receivers on the roster are (all years are for 2010):

• Julian Colarusso Soph 6-4 200
• Tom Gilson RS JR 6-3 210
• Jesse Julmiste JR 5-9 165
• Nick Jablonski RSFR 6-5 220 (TE)
• Rob Blanchflower RSFR 6-4 245 (TE)
  

Notes: The TE position look solid for 2010. Emil Igwenaqu as an "H" back was third in the team in catches and looked athletic while doing so. Andrew Kervis had two of the teams 11 pasing TD's despite not being thrown to much.

The WR position looks more problematic. Julian Talley should start. After him, things look thin. Syracuse transfer Dan Sheeran was originally rated as a pretty good recruit for the Orange. He would seem to have the inside track to be the other wideout in 2010.

JUCO receiver Jesse Julmiste was a late addition to the 2009 UMass squad. He was All-Broward County in 2006 (link is pdf). His Rivals page is here. In his senior year he drew interest from UCF, Memphis, Rutgers and Temple. His highlight tape claims he ran a 4.32 40 in HS. It remains to be seen if Julmiste is a Adrian Zullo type WR or is destined to run back kickoffs.

Receivers is a position that could use some recruiting attention in 2010. Beyond Tally and Sheeran there does not seem to be a lot of Division I talent. Besides any freshman recruits, a JUCO or I-A transfer would be a prudent get.